One of Blackpool's most popular tourist attractions is pointing the finger of blame at raunchy 'mummy porn' novel Fifty Shades of Grey after a spate of thefts.

Shackles and chains have gone missing from the Tower Dungeons in the resort, thefts that are being put down to fans of the book taking home souvenirs with which to emulate the risque sex life of characters Christian Grey and Anastacia Steele

Fifty Shades Of Grey fans are being blamed for the theft of shackles and chains from Blackpool Tower's dungeon

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Blackpool Tower Dungeon general manager Garry Blackadder said: 'We have noticed an increase in the number of females visiting to see the torture show over the last few weeks.

'And there seems to have been much more pointing and giggling at the props than previously.

'We just assumed that the Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon was giving the show a rather more "adult" appeal than before.

Dungeon chiefs first noticed something was amiss when a pair of shackles from the torture show went missing three weeks ago.

A large chain hanging on a wall as a prop inside the torture show area has also gone missing.

The
team of actors, who bring the grisly history of the torture chamber to
life for guests, have been given extra training on how to move customers
on politely once they have seen the show, to avoid further thefts.